revolution saint

Yeah, his profile looks more similar to Downes than anything else. Here's a quick scout report "Mateus Fernandes is a rising star in Portugal's Primeira Liga, a midfielder who inked his name in the hearts of Estoril's fans this 2023-2024 season. In a concise scout report, the youngster impresses with exemplary ball recovery, placing amongst the top echelon of his peers - a testament to his tireless engine and robust defensive prowess. Just as laudable, his progressive carrying ability suggests a high-tempo style of play. A fearless presence in one-on-one situations, Fernandes has shown a knack for maneuvering the ball through tight spaces to launch attacks. Despite his young age, he's shown an above-average capacity for chance creation and goal efficiency, positioning him as an exciting prospect for the near future. However, his threat towards the goal is a noticeable chink in his armor - he's far from being a significant contributor in the goal-scoring chart. This, coupled with a somewhat lackluster showing in progressive passing, indicates a room for growth in dictating attacks more productively. Fernandes is most comfortable and impactful in the middle of the park, asserting his influence primarily in midfield areas. His excellent duel win percentages are both a testament to his physical prowess and combative style of play, equally adept on the ground and in the air. However, he may be prone to giving away fouls considering his higher percentile score in this area. To conclude, Mateus Fernandes is a young midfield dynamo with a defensive bedrock and commendable ball-carrying abilities but has room for growth in his offensive output and disciplinary record. As a player who's constantly involved in the action - reflected by his high frequency of touches - the potential for further development should not be overlooked." Not sure we're crying out for a player of that profile, particularly with Big Les.

Seems like Mateus Fernandes is a goer at 12.8M. Depends what else we do in the window but still seems a strange one. Find it hard to believe that we think he's starting 11 material and nearly 13M is a lot (for us) to drop on a prospect when there's other more obvious deficiencies in the team. I'm not convinced these types of signings are good for the player either - to improve he needs to be playing regularly in the same way Charles needs a spell on loan. Just gotta hope he steps up like Lavia and Livramento.

Yeah, attacking midfield but was thinking more along the lines of squad makeup. Alcaraz hasn't really been a first choice 11 player for quite a while and if we're signing a player who turned 20 last month and who has one season of first team football under his belt then we shouldn't be looking at him as a starter in a far harder, more physical league. He'll have a lot of adapting to a new league, new language, style of play and all that kind of stuff. If we get MOR then he brings a goal threat, and we might be able to stick with what we've got up front. Sign this kid as an alternative then I'd be hoping for a proper experienced striker with a decent record because I'm not sure where they're going to come form otherwise - won't be this kid as he has one senior goal to his name.

I'm hoping not. He's a twenty year old kid with only one season experience in Portugal. He may be good but if we see him as a starter then that's a hell of a gamble. I'm going to go with an optimistic Alcaraz replacement and keep my fingers crossed.

Newcastle always start the season like a train, and we always start like a train wreck. 3-0.

I wouldn't take any of the figures for bids being bandied around as gospel. They're complicated things and the figures that make the headlines are rarely right. Pretty clear we are interested in O'Riley and we'll see what happens but there's also the rest of the squad to think about.

Yeah, I agree, I doubt the funds are there and I'd prefer O'Riley so no complaints from me if that's how it worked out. Clarke has a bit of swagger about him that gives you a bit of unpredictability. Probably the kind of thing that could happen if Sulemana was fit and sold. Interesting to see what happens with him though - Sunderland want 25M which ain't gonna happen and the clubs that were interested like Ipswich appear to have gone elsewhere. He ain't signing a new contract so Sunderland will probably need to drop that price fairly soon.

O'Riley ticks a lot of boxes and feels like the best signing we could realistically make this window. Knows RM, likes him and the style of play. Perfect age, big lad who can cope with the physicality of the league and a good source of goals and assists. Gotta sort out the keeper too and, being greedy, someone who can run with the ball like S Armstrong did. Doesn't need to be a winger per se and I guess Lallana could do the job if he was ever fit, but someone who can get past his man and break the lines would be icing on the cake stuff. Fuck it, sweat out Sunderland and pick up Jack Clarke.

Only one of those shots ended up on target. FFS even our PR is gash

On the face of it Archer doesn't have the kind of profile I was hoping for and very similar to Armstrong. I guess BBD could play the more physical role in a two or be the focal point in a three. We'll have to see on that. Haven't really seen enough of Archer to make any kind of judgement. Hopefully has good movement and striker instincts which we've really lacked. Adams definitely didn't have it and lost count of the number of times no one gambled on a near post run to nick in front of the defender. Rest of the proposed deals look reasonable - getting shot of Mara and big Les if it means allowing Charles to go out on loan (especially if it helps with getting a deal done for MOR).

That don't seem right to me. Their transfer record is 17.5M euros. I can see him going there but not for anywhere near that kind of money.

My niece getting into Oxford University.

No, that's not true at all. We would scout someone really good that looks fantastic, chuck a few hopelessly low bids in, wait a bit, see some big clubs come in once we get close, fail to sign the player AND then buy Mara and Onuachu.

I honestly don't see the attraction of Rutter, he's looked pretty rubbish whenever I've seen him.

Yeah, Asa Hartford was the fella David Coleman called a “whole hearted player”

More inane drivel. How about debating and answering questions as you always say?

You first. How about answering why someone who has denied the results of a legitimate election and caused an insurrection should ever be president again?

So this thread is LAST player to be excited about? Or simply an excuse to list the best player you were excited about? I'm not sure I'd carry on supporting Saints if the last signing I was genuinely excited about was decades ago. Anyway, BBD for me at the moment and I'm hoping the next one, whoever it is, is even better. I particularly like the foreign links to players I've never heard of and never seen play. In the absence of prior knowledge you can build them up into unknown gems that will set the world on fire. Course it hardly ever works out like that but it's a harmless pleasure.

That was my first thought too. Could be coincidence but since Charles got linked with a loan move we seem to have been linked with a few DMs - Skipp, Sheaf and mandela Keita.

I've watched the first Sunderland season, the Wrexham one and the Burnley one. Burnley was by far the worst one - seemed to concentrate on the owners far too much and almost felt like a vanity project for them. That was my impression anyway.

Dunno, it's not a situation that has occurred before.

Has anyone mentioned we turned down the chance to get Drogba as he was deemed too similar to Beattie? TBH most of the nearly transfers were probably pretty tenuous and unless we got to the stage where we made a bid then they're pretty irrelevant and you could replace Saints with any other similar placed club at the time.

It’ll be interesting to see how valuations change over the window. Leeds have bid 7m for Jonathan Rowe which won’t be accepted but indicates there might be a correction in prices this summer. No one has come close to Sunderland’s 25M valuation of Jack Clarke either.

Chelsea Flower Show?

I saw a video last night where Marc Guiu was saying that he didn't know if he would go immediately out on loan so I'm pretty sure he could be loaned out if that's what they wanted to do. Edit: here's a link about it: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-marc-guiu-loan-transfer-33395303